"Hustle" and "Folks" Kick Off 2005 Nashville Film Festival Tonight

A scene from Craig Brewer’s “Hustle & Flow,” screening tonight at the Nashville Film Festival.

The Nashville Film Festival opens tonight in Tennessee, opening with Craig Brewer‘s “Hustle & Flow” and featuring appearances by Brewer and the film’s producer John Singleton. Margaret Brown‘s “Be Here To Love Me: A Film About Townes van Zandt” will close the festival on April 21st.

Earlier in the evening on opening night Raymond De Felitta‘s “The Thing About My Folks” will kick off the event with Paul Reiser and Peter Falk in attendance. The film, a hit at recent festivals including the Santa Barbara International Film Festival where it won the audience award, is described as a warm, comedic look at parents.

At the festival this weekend will be Al Gore, presenting the event’s Reel Current Award for “extraordinary insight into a global issue,” to Taggart Siegel‘s “The Real Dirt on Farmer John.” The film is the story of an Illinois farmer, with unique methods, who builds a successful organic farm against resistance from the local community. The prize is named after a new cable company that former Tennessee senator Gore is launching and both filmmaker and subject will be in attendance.

Among the premieres set for Nashville 2005 include Ronny Kristoffersen‘s “Don’t Fuck With The Lewises,” about a film crew visiting Jerry Lee Lewis‘ sister and her husband, and the international premiere of Rogier Kappers‘ “Lomax The Songhunter,” a doc about the international travels of music explorer Alan Lomax.

A world premiere at this year’s festival is Bestor Cram‘s “The Special” about the bluegrass standard “Orange Blossom Special.” It features Vassar Clements, Bela Fleck, Charlie Daniels, String Cheese Incident, The Del McCoury Band, Johnny Cash and others. Another world premiere is Robert Gordon‘s “Cowboy Jack Clement’s Home Movies (Or, Shakespeare Was a Big George Jones Fan).” The film includes footage of of Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, John Prine, Charley Pride, George Jones, Dolly Parton, Porter Wagoner, and Jerry Lee Lewis, among others.